Traders and Trappers Index (2024)

David Adams

Lancaster Lupon

1840's

James Aird

American Fur Co

1815

Henry Atkinson

Military Officer/expeditions

1819 and 1825

Marcello Baca

Taos/Nathaniel Wyeth

1809-1862

Jim Baker

American Fur Co

1838-1840

Robert Bean

Taos-John Rogers

1830

William Becknell

Father of Santa Fe Trail

1821-1828

Jim Beckwourth

Ashley Henry-SJS-RMC

1822-1860's

Charles Bent

Bent&St. Vrain

1828-1840

Bartholomew Berthold

Merchant St. Louis/AmericanFur

1809-11830's

Joseph Bissonette

Trader:Ft. Laramie

1840's

Louis Bissonette

Trader: Upper Platte

1840-1870

Arthur Black

Ashley-Henry: SJS

1827-1828

Jefferson Blackwell

Partner with John Gnatt

1831

Charles Bodmer

Artist w/Prince Maximillian

1832-1833

Benjamin Bonneville

Nathaniel Wyeth

1832-1835

Oliver Bostwick

Agent-American Fur Co/Pacific

1830

Micheal Bourdon

Hudson Bay-Snake River Brig

1822-1824

Frances Branch

Taos-William Wolfskill

1830

Alexander Branch

Taos

1824

Joseph Brazeau

French

1790-1809

Jim Bridger

Ashley-Henry/SJS/RMFC

1822-1860's

Calvin Briggs

Nathaniel Wyeth-Worked at Ft Hall

1834-1849

T.C. Brinsmade

Astor

Baptiste Brown

French Canadian/Taos

1827

James Bruffee

Rocky Mountain Fur Company

1827-1828

Stephen Burdit

Nathaniel Wyeth

1832

David Burr

Map Maker

1830's and on

Jean Cabanne

B. Pratte &Co. \American Fur Co

1830's and on

Robert Campbell

Rocky Mountain Fur Company

1825-1840

Christopher (Kit) Carson

Hudsons Bay/Rocky Mountain Fur

1829-1840

Alexander Carson

Ezikekiel Williams-Missouri Fur Co

1807

Martin Cass

Astorian

1810

George Catlin

Artist w/William Clark

1830

Jean-Baptiste Champlain

Ezikekiel Williams-Missouri Fur Co

1814

Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau

Son of Sacagawea:RMFC-AMFC

1820's and beyond

Toussaint Charbonneau

Guide Louis&Clark

1808

Francis Chardon

American Fur Co

1817-1840's

James Cheek

Louis&Clark

1809

Auguste Pierre Chouteau

Agent-American Fur Co

1815s to 1840's

Jean Pierre Chouteau

Indian Agent Louisiana

1804-1849

Pierre Jr. Chouteau

Partner:Astor,Pernard Pratte

1820's to 1840's

Edmund Christy

Partner:Astor,Pernard Pratte

1820's to 1840's

Antoine Citoleux

Missouri Fur Co

1812-1813

Antoine Clement

Rocky Mountain Fur Company

1835-1837

Louis Clermo

Rocky Mountain Fur Company

1832

See Also

The Chouteaus: Our First Family

James Kennerly

Taos

1820

James Kipp

Columbia R. Co./American Fur Co.

1818-1831

William Kittson

Hudson Bay

1824-1831

Micheal Laframboise

Astorian/NWC/HBC (sailed on Tanquin

1810-1830's

William Laidlaw

Columbia R. Co./American Fur Co.

1822-1834

Daniel Lamont

Columbia R. Co./American Fur Co.

1834-?

Charles Larpenteur

RMFC/American Fur Co.

1833-

Narcisse Leclerc

Pilcher&Fontinelle

1823-1824

Francios Leclerc

Astorian/Taos/With Provost

1811-1830

Beaver Leigh

Guided F. Hayden Expedition

1840-1880

Zenas Leonard

Gnatt-Blackwell/Bonneville

1831-1836

Reuben Lewis

Missour Fur Co./Bro. To M. Lewis

1809

Manual Lisa

Missouri Fur Co./Ashley Henry

1808-1812,

Prince Alexander Maximillian

German Scientist/Explorer

1832

Robert McClellan

Pacific Fur Co

1812

John McCleod

Hudson Bay Co

1822-1836

Kenneth McKenzie

NWC/Columbia Fur/American Fur

1820-1830 and beyond

Donald Mckinzie

NWC/Pacific Fur/Hudson's Bay

1800-1840

Robert McKnight

Sante Fe

1812

DR. John McLoughlin

Hudsons Bay-Chief Factor

1825-1846

John George McTavish

N.W. Co

1813

Joseph Meek

Rocky Mountain Fur Company

1829-1847

Pierre Menard

Trader,Investor,Illinois Senator

1766-1844

Joseph Miller

NW Co./First to See Bear Lake

1811

David Dawson Mitchell

American Fur Co.

1830-1841

Robert Newell

SJS/American Fur Co.

1829-1840

George Nidever

Trapper/Journalist/Bonneville

1831-1850

Benjamin O'Fallon

Indian Agent Upper Misouri

1822-1826

John O'Fallon

Assistant to William Clark/Nephew

1791-1860

Peter Ogden

AMC/NWC/Hudson's Bay Co.

1807-1847

Archibald Palmer

American Fur Co.

1830's?

Alexander Laforce Papin

French

1800

James Ohio Pattie

Gila River/Saw Grand Canyon

1815-1830

Honore Picotte

American Fur Co./French Fur Co.

1820-1847

Dieder Papin Pierre

American Fur C./His Own Co.

1828-1853

Joshua Pilcher

Missouri Fur Co/J. Pilcher co

1809, 1827-1835

Simon Plamondon

NWC/Hudson's Bay Co.

1815-1827

Daniel Potts

Lewis&Clark,Missouri Fur Co,Ashley

1827-?

Sylvester Pratte

French Co/American Fur Co.

1827

Bernard Pratte

French Co. Partner-Chouteau Partner

1771-1836

Etienne Provost

Taos/Provost&Leclerc

1822-1850

John Reed

Astorian

1812-?

Jacob Reznor

Astorian w.Hunt.Partner with Hoback

1811-1814

Louis Robidoux

Taos

Antoine Robidoux

Sante Fe/Ft. UnCompahgre/Fort Uintah

1824-1847

Joseph Robidoux

Chouteau Man/Founder of St. Jo. Mi

18?-1831

Edward Robinson

Astorian w.Hunt.Partner with Hoback

1811-?

Harrison Rogers

Ashely-Smith/SJS-killed at Upqua Mas. Traveld w/ Jed. Smith in Ca.

1823-1828

Edward Rose

Missouri Fur Co./American Fur Co

1803-1835

Alexander Ross

Astorian/HBC/Ashley/

1810-1830's

Osborn Russell

Nathaniel Wyeth/

1834-1842

George Frederick Ruxton

Author/Adventurer

1846-1848

Peter Sarpy

Fontinelle

1823-1840

Hiram Scott

Rocky Mountain Fur Company/Scotts Bluff

1827-1828

George Simpson

Hudson's Bay "Chief Factor"

1821-1842

Alexander Sinclair

Bean-Sinclair

1830-1832

Thomas Peg Leg Smith

American Fur Company

1816-1840

Jedadiah Smith

Ashley-Henry,SJS

1822-1831

Ceran St. Vrain

Bernard Pratte & Co./Bent-St. Vrain&Co.

1824-1870

Alfred Stephens

Nathaniel Wyeth

1832

William Drummond Stewart

Scottish Advernturer/Alfred Jacob Miller

1832-1834

Robert Stuart

Pacific Fur Co./Return Trip from Astoria

1812-1815

William Sublette

Ashely-Smith/SJS/RMFC

1823-1836

Andrew Sublette

SJS/RMFC

1827-1853

Pinckney W. Sublette

RMFC

1827-1828

Solomon Perry Sublette

Sante Fe/Vasquez Partner/Sutter/Walker

1836-1857

Milton Sublette

Gila River/RMFC/Nathaniel Wyeth/Fitz&Brid

1826-1835

Levi Talbot

Rocky Mountain Fur Co.

1823

Pierre Tevanitagon

HBC/Ashley/Pierre's Hole Named

1810-1827

Joseph Thing

Nathaniel Wyeth

1834

David Thompson

Hudsons Bay/Mapper who Traveled 55K miles

1792-1812

William TiltonTom Tate Tobin

New Mexico/Worked at Bent's fort

1823-1858

John Kirk Townsend

Naturalist traveled to Oregon with Wyeth

1833

Samuel Tulloch

SJS-wonded Bear Lake Rendezvous

1827-1832+

John Turner

SJS/EWING YOUNG

1823-1833

William Henry Vanderburgh

Missouri Fur Co./Co. of Joshua Pilcher, Charles Bent, Lucien Fontenelle, Vanderburgh, Dripps./ American Fur Co.

1818

Louis Vasquez

Trader pre-1820/Ashley-Henry?/RMFC/Campbell&Vesquez.Ft.Bridger

1820-1868

Antoine Baronait Vasquez

Ft. Bridger/Interpreter for Pike

1814-1828

Thomas Virgin

SJS. With Jedadiah Smith in California

1823-1825

Joseph Walker

Bonneville/American Fur Co.

1833-1836

John Weber

Ashley-Henry

1822-1823

Peter Weiser

Lewis&Clark,Missouri Fur Co. (Lisa)

1804-1828

Dr. Marcus Whitman

Missionary

1836-1847

Old Bill Williams

Ft. Ossage/Santa Fe/FlatHead/W-Sibley/W.Fitzpatrick/Wth Bent/Kit Carson/Walker/Freemont and on and on=Highly Educated and fluent in many languages.

1804-1849

Ezekiel Williams

Missouri Fur Co./Sante Fe/

1807-1844

William Wolfskill

Sante Fe-W/William Becknell/Traded to Calif.

Richens Lacy Wootton

Sante Fe/Fought Mexico in Taos Rebellion/More

1836-1893

John Work

HBC/With Odgen

1825-1861

Nathaniel Wyeth

Nathaniel Wyeth Co-Columbia Fishing C.

1832-1850

John Wyeth

Nathaneil Wyeth Co. Abandoned at Pierrs Hole

1832-1834

Ewing Young

Sante Fe/Becknell's 2nd Expedition/Partner with W. Wolfskill in trapping and California Horse tradding/Partner with David Jackson&David Waldo

1822-1834

George Yount

Sante Fe/With Wolfskill/California Pioneer

1834-

FAQs

Who was the most famous fur trader? ›

Astor started a fur-goods shop in New York City about 1786 after learning about the fur trade while aboard the ship that took him to the U.S. Benefitting from the Jay Treaty between England and the U.S. (1794) that opened up new markets in Canada and the Great Lakes region, and from shrewd dealings with Indian tribes, ...

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How many beavers were killed during the fur trade? ›

During the fur trade of the 1600s and early 1700s, they were trapped and hunted for their valuable pelts. At the height of the fur trade, around 200 000 beavers were killed in Canada each year! By the 1900s, beavers were scarce across North America.

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Why did many of the early French traders and trappers not leave a written account of their discoveries and travels? ›

Within a century of the establishment of Quebec in 1608, French trappers and traders had penetrated the valleys of the tributaries of the Mississippi, including the Arkansas and Red rivers. Since most of these Frenchmen were illiterate, few left records of their incursions into present Oklahoma.

How long did a rendezvous last? ›

A rendezvous was a trading fair that usually lasted several days. It is a French word for an appointment or meeting place. Missouri trader Captain William Ashley held the first trappers' rendezvous in 1825.

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Who is the most famous trader of all time? ›

Jesse Livermore.
William Delbert Gann.
George Soros.
Jim Rogers.
Richard Dennis.
Paul Tudor Jones.
John Paulson.
Steven Cohen.

More items...

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Who is the most profitable trader in the world? ›

1. George Soros. George Soros, often referred to as the «Man Who Broke the Bank of England», is an iconic figure in the world of forex trading. His net worth, estimated at around $8 billion, reflects not only his financial success but also his enduring influence on global markets.

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How much did a beaver pelt cost in 1800? ›

Back in the day, the middle 1800s, a beaver pelt was worth two bucks to the trapper from the buyers at the Hudson Bay Company. The price at one of the “rendezvous” was somewhat less. That was double the wages of a normal day's work at that time. Beaver hides were bought by the pound in New York and London.

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Which animal was the most valuable in the fur trade? ›

They harvested a wide variety of furs (beaver being the most valuable) in the region's woodlands and waterways. In exchange for these furs, French, British, and US traders provided goods such as blankets, firearms and ammunition, cloth, metal tools, and brass kettles.

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What is the biggest beaver ever caught? ›

Which is the biggest beaver ever recorded? The biggest beaver ever recorded was found in North America and weighed 110 pounds. This beaver is twice as large as the average beaver size! It was caught in Iron County in 1921 but was originally from Wisconsin, United States.

How did the French treat Native Americans? ›

The French empire depended on maintaining a network of Native alliances, and so French officials, traders, and officers tried to employ diplomacy, tact, and respect for Native culture. These relations sustained the business of the fur trade.

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Why did the French lose all their land in North America? ›

The Treaty of Paris of 1763 ended the French and Indian War/Seven Years' War between Great Britain and France, as well as their respective allies. In the terms of the treaty, France gave up all its territories in mainland North America, effectively ending any foreign military threat to the British colonies there.

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Why did Napoleon sell Louisiana? ›

But France's ruler at the time, Napoleon Bonaparte, was losing interest in establishing a North American empire and needed funds to fight the British, so he directed his emissaries to offer not just New Orleans but all of the Louisiana Territory to the Americans.

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Why did the Mountain Man era come to an end? ›

By the time two new international treaties in early 1846 and early 1848 officially settled new western coastal territories in the United States and spurred a large upsurge in migration, the days of mountain men making a good living by fur trapping had largely ended.

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Who were Ashley's 100? ›

“Ashley's Hundred”

Jim Bridger, Jedediah Smith, Jim Beckwourth, William Sublette, the list goes on, to the point where they are known as “Ashley's Hundred.” All of these men had at least two things in common: a thirst for adventure and they would be led by Ashley.

What did mountain men do at rendezvous? ›

The Rocky Mountain Rendezvous was an annual rendezvous, held between 1825 and 1840 at various locations, organized by a fur trading company at which trappers and mountain men sold their furs and hides and replenished their supplies.

Who is the most famous floor trader? ›

Peter Michael Tuchman (born 1957) is a stock trader on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

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Who was the most important trader? ›

The Banjaras were the most important trader nomads. Their caravan was called tanda. Sultan Alauddin Khalji used the Banjaras to transport grain to the city markets. Emperor Jahangir wrote in his memoirs that the Banjaras carried grain on their bullocks from different areas and sold it in towns.

Who were the explorers of the fur trade? ›

This trade became so lucrative that many fishermen abandoned fishing and made voyages to North America only to trade in furs, often before great explorers such as Cartier, Giovanni Caboto (John Cabot), Henry Hudson, Giovanni da Verrazzano, and even Christopher Columbus made their famous voyages.

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Who started the American fur trade? ›

The earliest fur traders in North America were French explorers and fishermen who arrived in what is now Eastern Canada during the early 1500's. Trade started after the French offered the Indians kettles, knives, and other gifts as a means to establish friendly relations. The Indians, in turn, gave pelts to the French.

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